Former Norfolk Homicide Investigator Sentenced to 12 Years and 6 Months in Prison for Extortion

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 25, 2011

NORFOLK, Va. – Robert Glenn Ford, 57, of Virginia Beach, Va., a former homicide investigator with the Norfolk Police Department, was sentenced today in Norfolk federal court to 12 years and 6 months in prison for extortion and conspiracy offenses and for making false statements to the FBI. A jury convicted Ford of those charges last October following a one week trial.

Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, made the announcement after Ford was sentenced by United States District Judge Jerome B. Friedman.

"Today is a sad day; it's sad anytime a police officer is convicted of abusing the incredible trust that the public places on him," said U.S. Attorney MacBride. "Glenn Ford betrayed his fellow cops, the court system, the public and the law he swore to uphold. He disgraced his badge extorting money from drug dealers to fix cases dating back to the 1990s. Police corruption strikes at the heart of the justice system, and we remain committed to prosecuting it to the fullest extent of the law."

The evidence presented at trial showed that in instances dating back to the 1990s, Ford obtained monetary payments totaling approximately $70,000 from and on behalf of individuals charged with criminal offenses, in return for helping them secure release on bond and sentence reductions by falsely representing to prosecutors and judges that these individuals provided assistance in the investigation of homicides in Norfolk. Ford also made false statements to federal agents during a voluntary interview conducted during an investigation.

The evidence also showed that Ford used informants to fraudulently obtain money from Crime Line, a program funded by private donations to reward persons who provide tips to the police that help solve crimes.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Alan M. Salsbury and Melissa E. O’Boyle prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.